holidayshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/taxonomy/term/6134/all
enTUC says 1.7 million people are missing out on their paid holidayshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21949
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<p>New figures published by the Trades Union Congress indicate that 1,669,000 employees are missing out on their minimum legal entitlement to paid holidays.</p>
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<p>New figures published today (30 July) by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) indicate that 1,669,000 employees are missing out on their minimum legal entitlement to paid holidays.</p>
<p>The TUC’s analysis of unpublished figures from the 2014 Labour Force Survey (LFS) shows that on average, 6.4 per cent of employees across the UK are losing out on their holiday rights.</p>
<p>In Northern Ireland this figure rises to 9.5 per cent and in Wales it is 7.6 per cent. English regions most affected are London (7.5 per cent) and the West Midlands (6.9 per cent). In contrast, the figure for the North East of England is 5.1 per cent and for Scotland it is 5.2 per cent.</p>
<p>In terms of job sectors, the greatest concentration of missed holiday entitlements is found in arts and entertainment (13.9 per cent), accommodation and food (12.5 per cent), administration and support services (9.2 per cent) and construction (8.1 per cent). In contrast, the figure for the finance and insurance sector is only 1.9 per cent and for public administration and defence it is only 2.8 per cent.</p>
<p>In November 1998 the introduction of the EU Working Time Directive extended the right to paid leave to all workers for the first time. Up to six million workers in the UK, who had less leave than the minimum standard of four weeks, benefitted from the new Working Time Directive holiday allowance. Entitlement in the UK was increased in 2007 and 2009 following a campaign by the TUC which showed many workers were forced to use paid leave on bank holidays.</p>
<p>The TUC warns that it has become easier for bad employers to get away with denying workers their full holiday pay since employment tribunal fees were introduced. The TUC also argues that rather than putting the entire onus on the worker, HM Revenue and Customs should also enforce holiday rights.</p>
<p>The TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady said: “As people head off on their holidays, spare a thought for those still stuck at work with bad bosses who break the law by denying staff their full holiday.</p>
<p>“Some employers deliberately stop staff from taking the leave and holiday pay they’re entitled to, whereas other workers lose out from poor management and failure to keep up with the law.</p>
<p>“Workers should not be cheated out of their holidays through illegal and unfair practices by employers. We are in danger of seeing a burnout Britain where workers feel pressured to give up their holidays and increase their hours. Workers who are worried about not getting their holiday entitlements should join a union, so that their voice is heard and their interests are properly represented.</p>
<p>“We are worried that David Cameron’s EU renegotiation may take away our statutory holiday entitlements by opting-out of the Working Time Directive. These figures on the number of people missing out on their holiday rights clearly show that the rules need to be strengthened rather than weakened further.”</p>
<p>* Details of the TUC’s methodology for calculating the number of people missing out on their holiday rights are available here: <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Holiday-pay-methodology.pdf" title="www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Holiday-pay-methodology.pdf">www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Holiday-pay-methodology.pdf</a></p>
<p>*TUC <a href="https://www.tuc.org.uk/" title="https://www.tuc.org.uk/">https://www.tuc.org.uk/</a></p>
<p>[Ekk/4]</p>
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Living EconomyNews Briefemployment rightsholidayspaid holidaystucUK NewsWed, 29 Jul 2015 23:00:00 +0000agency reporter21949 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukHolidays, the uses of travel and the challenge of re-creationhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21941
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<h1 class="title">Holidays, the uses of travel and the challenge of re-creation</h1>
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<p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21941" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Living EconomyNews BriefconsumerismholidaysjourneysmigrantsrefugeesBlogMon, 27 Jul 2015 23:00:00 +0000Jill Segger21941 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukFour million extra parents have access to parental leave this summerhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/21850
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<p>The TUC has reminded parents of school age children that they now have access to unpaid parental leave that could help them secure time off work during school holidays.</p>
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<p>The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has reminded parents of school age children that they now have access to unpaid parental leave that could help them to secure time off work during the school holidays.</p>
<p>Following new rules introduced in April this year, parents with at least one year’s service with their current employer qualify for 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave per child, which can be taken any time up until the child’s 18th birthday. Previously, only parents with children under five were eligible for this EU-derived right.</p>
<p>The TUC believes that an additional four million working parents will be included in this workplace advantage, compared to the three million who had access when it just applied to pre-school children and disabled children.</p>
<p>Unpaid parental leave needs to be taken in weekly blocks, unless the employer agrees to a shorter period, and must be requested 21 days in advance. With schools breaking up for the summer holidays in the next couple of weeks, parents who might want to use this unpaid time off work should let their employers know as soon as possible, says the TUC.</p>
<p>The statutory entitlement could be a welcome asset for parents who struggle to find suitable and affordable holiday care schemes for their children during school holidays.</p>
<p>A recent report on sufficiency of childcare places identified holiday childcare as one of the most significant shortages, with 39 local authorities in England and Wales saying they have insufficient places for children in their area. Last summer, one in three working parents reported that they couldn’t find affordable holiday childcare and one in eight said they had given up work to look after their children.</p>
<p>TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Many parents face huge difficulties combining work with childcare during the school holidays.</p>
<p>“Many will be using paid annual leave to spend time with their children. But with school holidays lasting around 13 weeks and workers entitled to less than six weeks’ paid holiday a year, working parents need more support.</p>
<p>“Our message to employers is to be as supportive as they can when their staff request parental leave or need changes in their working hours over the summer holidays.”</p>
<p>* TUC guides to leave and pay for working parents are available at <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender-equality/caring" title="www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender-equality/caring">www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender-equality/caring</a></p>
<p>* The Family and Childcare Trust’s recent report on sufficiency of childcare places is available here:<br />
<a href="http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/access-denied-report-childcare-sufficiency-and-market-management-england-and-wales" title="http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/access-denied-report-childcare-sufficiency-and-market-management-england-and-wales">http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/access-denied-report-childcare-su...</a></p>
<p>* TUC <a href="https://www.tuc.org.uk/" title="https://www.tuc.org.uk/">https://www.tuc.org.uk/</a></p>
<p>[Ekk/4]</p>
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Living EconomyNews Briefchildcareholidaysparental leavetucUK NewsWed, 01 Jul 2015 23:00:00 +0000agency reporter21850 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukSunday Morning Live: religious holidays?http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/20982
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<h1 class="title">Sunday Morning Live: religious holidays?</h1>
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<p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/20982" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Beliefs and ValuesNews Briefbbcbbc 1british holidaysholidaysBlogSat, 25 Oct 2014 12:52:23 +0000Press Office20982 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukHoly-days, re-creation and the Prime Ministerhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18900
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<h1 class="title">Holy-days, re-creation and the Prime Minister</h1>
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<p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18900" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Beliefs and ValuesLiving EconomyNews BriefausterityholidayspoliticiansBlogMon, 26 Aug 2013 15:14:03 +0000Jill Segger18900 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukCalf Cop and the still dews of quietnesshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16869
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<h1 class="title">Calf Cop and the still dews of quietness</h1>
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<p><a href="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16869" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Beliefs and ValuesNews BriefangerbereavementDeathholidaysquakerssilencesufferingBlogSun, 29 Jul 2012 16:14:39 +0000Jill Segger16869 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukVatican commends greener summer holidayshttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7399
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<p>As the summer holiday season draws near for many, the Vatican has issued a set of guidelines offering advice on how to make vacations more environmentally responsible and friendly.</p>
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<p>As the summer holiday season draws near for many, the Vatican has issued a set of guidelines offering advice on how to make vacations more environmentally responsible and friendly.</p>
<p>"One can choose to be a tourist at odds with the Earth or in favour of it," said the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, according to excerpts published by Italy's ANSA news agency.</p>
<p>Tips included taking less luggage, cutting back on plane and car journeys and planting trees, to offset tourists' carbon footprints. They also advise choosing vacation spots more in harmony with nature.</p>
<p>Under Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II, the Vatican itself has taken steps to become greener. Solar panels have now been installed on the roofs of buildings to produce electricity.</p>
<p>Last year, the Vatican hosted a scientific conference on climate change.</p>
<p><em>With acknowledgments to Independent Catholic News</em> - <a href="http://www.indcatholicnews.com/" title="http://www.indcatholicnews.com/">http://www.indcatholicnews.com/</a></p>
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<p><em>Ekklesia is not just a think-tank, but also a 'do-tank.' Here you can find a range of ideas on how to make your lifestyle greener, shop ethically, live more simply or take action on a range of justice and environmental issues</em> - <a href="http://ekklesia.co.uk/lifestyle/27" title="http://ekklesia.co.uk/lifestyle/27">http://ekklesia.co.uk/lifestyle/27</a></p>
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Living EconomyNews Briefclimate changeglobal warmingholidaysPopevaticanWorld NewsSun, 29 Jun 2008 07:31:15 +0000agency reporter7399 at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk